Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
Marshall Cohen—researcher and producer, CNN
Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
DUBUQUE RETAIL MERCHANTS BUREAU
Being written
DUBUQUE RETAIL MERCHANTS BUREAU. The public face for many years of the DUBUQUE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, the bureau hosted a variety of activities including a $150 Easter wardrobe for men and another for women in March, 1960. (1) In the 1930s it partnered with other community organizations to publish in the newspaper upbeat articles extolling virtues under such titles as "I Knew Him When He Pushed a Wheelbarrow." (2)
In 1944 during WORLD WAR II, the Merchants Bureau organized a contest for a way of demonstrating the success of fund-raising for the Dubuque Community War Chest. The winning design, a pylon erected at 8th Avenue and Main, was constructed of donated materials and spotlighted at night with lights. Marks placed on the pylon indicated the amount of contributions received. (3)
The bureau also organized festivities in association with the opening in 1943 of the bridge to East Dubuque.The bureau unanimously endorsed the idea of the federal government constructing a $3 million air force reserve base at municipal airport near Dubuque in 1956. (4)
Encouraging business in Dubuque included sponsoring "Free Bridge Day" in 1941. On May 1st, the bureau made it possible for East Dubuque residents to pass over the JULIEN DUBUQUE BRIDGE toll free to shop between 8:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. "Dubuque Days" in September, 1960 featured $300 in home furnishings from the store of the customer's choice for visiting a retailer and leaving a filled-in coupon found in the newspaper. (5) The second annual Christmas Parade was held in 1956 with sponsorship shared between the Merchants Bureau and the Telegraph Herald.
---
Source:
1. Advertisement. Telegraph-Herald, March 31, 1960, p. 4
2. Advertisement. Telegraph-Herald, January 11, 1937, p. 7
3. Photograph. Telegraph-Herald, October 19, 1944, p. 3
3. "Local Air Force Base is Endorsed in Testimonial Letters," Telegraph-Herald, March 11, 1956, p. 4
4. Advertisement.